Migrant Health Facts

Alberto Moreno, MSW

Migrant Health Coordinator

Department of Human Services

How are the issues faced by Migrant Workers relevant to me?

“Eating is an agricultural act.”

-Wendell Berry, Writer and Farmer

Latinos in the US

There are 37 million Latinos in the US 21 million of these are of Mexican origin

According to the California Policy Research Center, University of California, 2003

Latinos in the US

Represent $580 billion in buying power-

2002 US Census and Selig Center for Economic Growth at the University of Georgia

Latinos in the US

Undocumented workers generate goods and services worth more than $120 billion a year in the US

-2002 US Census and Selig Center for Economic Growth at the University of Georgia

Latinos in the US

Documented and Undocumented Mexican Immigrants pay $25 – 30 billion in taxes each year.

-California Policy Research Center, University of California, 2003

Although Latinos clearly make substantial contributions to the US economy, this highly productive community has some of the worst health outcomes.

For example:

Latinos in the U.S.

1.2 Million Mexicans in the US have been diagnosed with diabetes

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death among Latinos nationwide

-California Policy Research Center, University of California, 2003

Latinos in the U.S.

Despite high levels of employment, nearly 60% of Latinos live in families with incomes below 200% of the poverty level, compared to 23% of whites

-California Policy Research Center, University of California, 2003

Latinos in the U.S.

Migrant Workers in U.S.

In the United States, 70% of the agricultural-worker population does not have health insurance

National Center for Farmworker Health. 1999(www.ncfh.org)

Migrant Workers in U.S.

81% of all farmworkers in 1997 were foreign-born

77% of all farmworkers were Mexican-born 61% had incomes below the poverty level Median income of individual farmworkers

has remained less than 7,500 per year

National Agricultural Workers Survey, U.S. Department of Labor, March 2000

Five out of six Farmworkers spoke Spanish (84%)

Farmworkers had on average completed six years of education

Just one tenth of foreign born Farmworkers spoke or read English Fluently-National Agricultural Workers Survey, Department of Labor 1997

Migrant Farmworkers in U.S.

Migrant Farmworkers in U.S.

Less than 5% of Mexican-born and other Latin-American born Farmworkers reported they could read and speak English well

52% of hired Farmworkers lacked work authorization (making them weary of seeking out state sponsored services)

Just 5% reported being covered by employer provided health insurance-National Agricultural Workers Survey, Department of Labor 1997

Migrant Farmworkers in U.S.

Commonly reported health problems among Migrant Farmworkers and their children include: lower height and weight, respiratory disease, parasitic conditions, skin infection, chronic diarrhea, vitamin A deficiency, accidental injury, heat-related illness, and chemical poisoning-Reducing Pesticide Exposure in Minority Families, OHSU

Migrant Farmworkers in U.S.

Most incidents of pesticide poisoning go unreported as they are mistaken for flu or because workers may fear losing their jobs if they report.

Migrant Farmworkers in U.S.

United Farmworkers estimates that approximately 800,000 children under the age of 18 work in agriculture in the US

Migrant Farmworkers in U.S.

According to the General Accounting Office (1992) farm work is the most dangerous occupation in the US

Migrant Farmworkers in U.S.

Farmworkers’ dental health is that of a third world population

-League of Women Voters, Farmworkers in Oregon Report, Fall 2000

Migrant Workers in U.S.

100,000 Children are injured and 100 are killed in farm work yearly

-National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

Migrant Farmworkers in U.S.

The life expectancy of Migrant Farmworkers is 49 years compared to the national average of 73

-Center for Disease Control, 1998

The Health of Agriculture in Oregon

In 1998, 894,386 cases of wine were sold. In 1999 17,000 metric tons of wine grapes were produced, worth over $23 million

-Oregon USDA Statistics, 1998

The Health of Agriculture in Oregon

In 1998 Oregon’s nursery and greenhouse industries totaled $532 million in sales. This marks the 8th consecutive year of record sales

-Oregon USDA Statistics, 1998

The Health of Agriculture in Oregon

Total Oregon production value of vegetables, fruits, and nuts in 1999 was over $569 million, the 5th highest in the US

-Oregon USDA Statistics, 1998

The Health of Agriculture in Oregon

Oregon, however, tips the nation in prevalence of hunger and was tied for 4th worst nationally, in ranking for food insecurity

-2000 Oregon Food Bank

Migrant Workers in Oregon:

According to the Oregon Migrant and Seasonal Farmworker Enumeration Profiles Study completed by Alice Larson, Ph.D., September, 2002:

Migrant Workers in Oregon

The Migrant and Seasonal Farmworker population is estimated at 174,484. This number includes workers and their dependents

Migrant Workers in Oregon

There are 14,588 Migrant Children and Youth

There are 44,905 Seasonal Children and youth

Migrant Workers in Oregon

In Oregon, Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers are integral to creating over $3 billion of annual agricultural economic activity

-1999 Oregon USDA

The Health of Migrant Workers in Oregon

According to a “Farmworkers in Oregon 2000 Report” published by the League of Women Voters:

More than 40% of all Farmworkers who visit health clinics have multiple and complex health problems. Because of limited access to health care, Farmworkers often are seen only when their health problems are at an advanced stage.

The Health of Migrant Workers in Oregon

Young (2/3 are under age 35) 80% Male Hispanic (90% Hispanic, mostly from

Mexico) Low income (half of the workers earned

less than $7,500 a year)-League of Women voters in Oregon report, Fall 2000

The Health of Migrant Workers in Oregon

Obtaining regular prenatal care for Migrant mothers is difficult and many pregnancies are high risk

-Oregon CD Summary, Health Issue Among Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers,1999

The Health of Migrant Workers in Oregon

Oregon currently does not offer prenatal care to undocumented women. Washington and California do.

The infant mortality rate among Migrant Workers is 25% higher than the general population(Reducing Pesticide Exposure in Minority Families, OHSU, 2003)

The Health of Migrant Workers in Oregon

Migrant Farmworkers are among the most disadvantaged, medically indigent persons and have the poorest health of any group in the US-Reducing Pesticide Exposure in Minority Families, OHSU

Daniel Rothenberg reminds us:

“The apparent invisibility of production is a form of social forgetting, a politics of glossing over the real social and economic relations that allow for our high standard of living. Considering the world of farm laborers presents a powerful corrective to a society easily enamored with its own self-serving myths. Still, it is Americans’ deep rooted desire to believe in equality and the march of progress that makes farmworkers’ situation so poignant, creating a discomfort born of our country’s failure to live up to its own ideals.”